Strategic Initiatives

Economic development is often referred to as a three-legged stool: keeping and growing existing businesses, starting new businesses, and attracting businesses. While we agree with the three legs of the stool we like to challenge the status quo and add a fourth leg: supporting local sectors. Our strategy is to lead the Eugene area economic development agenda with a priority focus on traded-sector growth using all four legs of “our” stool.

Learn more about our strategic initiatives below.

Lead Business Retention and Expansion: The economic health of a community is only as good as the jobs provided by local businesses. The Eugene Chamber understands that local businesses need support to be successful. That’s why we run a best practice economic development strategy called Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) focused on helping businesses solve problems and capitalize on opportunities, all with the goal of retaining and creating well-paying jobs in Eugene. Learn more

Lead Sector Strategy Projects: It’s important for a community to diversify its economy through businesses in different sectors, the same way it’s important for investors to diversify their investments in different funds. A diversified economy, is a stronger economy since the community isn’t dependent on one industry. That’s why the Eugene Chamber is a lead partner in sector strategy projects in Lane County aimed at supporting and growing key sectors. Sector strategies are partnerships where the businesses in a sector work together with government, education, training, economic development, labor and community organizations to identify initiatives designed to grow the sector. We currently have a sector strategy project focused on the food/beverage sector in Lane County. Learn more

Drive Reconstruction of Regional Recruitment: While our priority focus is on growing our local businesses, it’s still important for a community to attract new businesses. New businesses bring outside money into a community and create new jobs, thus increasing the strength of the local economy. Business recruitment takes intentional efforts to market a community to attract new businesses that (1) fit into a community’s values and (2) supports existing businesses. The Eugene Chamber is a lead partner driving the reconstruction of regional recruitment in the greater Eugene–Springfield area. The Eugene Chamber is committed to working with key partners to create a recruitment strategy that aligns with our community’s values, builds on our strengths, and supports our existing businesses. Learn more

Advocate for the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: Every business was once a startup that has grown to provide jobs and opportunities in our community. We know that access to resources, people, and capital are critical to a startup’s success. That’s why we advocate for the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Eugene-Springfield through our support of RAIN Eugene and Fertilab, as well as our role as a founding partner of the Willamette Angels Conference. Learn more about our efforts to support the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem.